Skip the $20 Trick in Vegas – Don’t Make It Weird

Key Points:

• The $20 trick is executed at check-in to obtain an upgraded room.

• This is done by handing a $20 bill to the front desk employee along with your credit card and ID.

• Skip the “trick” and just have a $20 out and visible for tipping if an upgrade is available.

The $20 trick is a popular maneuver at the hotel registration desk to score an upgrade.

Succesful $20 trickers commonly show off their additional space, better view, or more luxurious amenities on the socials.

Those showboaty posts leave many, myself included, eager to give it a shot. But, here’s the deal…

What is the $20 Trick?

It’s easy. Just sandwich a $20 between your ID and credit card at the front desk and ask if there are any “complimentary upgrades”.

Now the uncomfortable part… Waiting through the silence and clicking of the keyboard, hoping that you didn’t part with $20 for nothing in return.

I should note that there’s NOTHING “tricky” about this. Every front desk employee has seen it 1.9 million times.

They’ll know exactly what’s going on.

When it Makes Sense To Try

If you’re staying at a resort with a slew of very similar accomodations, like an all-suite resort like The Venetian, where there are very few upgrades available besides the view… skip it. Not worth it.

You’re just not going to get a worthwhile upgrade.

On the flipside, a resort like Caesars Palace could be a great opportunity, especially if you have a base Colosseum room booked, as there are countless room types spread over multiple towers.

Much better chance of getting some “bang for your buck”.

Does It Work?!

Opinions vary, but greasing the wheels can’t hurt your chances.

Obviously, though, there’s a lot more to getting an upgrade than tipping at check-in. The hotel could be at capacity, no upgrades available, or the employee could just hate life… and by default… you.

Some hotels even prohibit the front desk from taking tips.

While there are stories of front desk employees rejecting tips, stating there is nothing available, many others claim upgrades that would cost more than $20.

Common upgrades include Strip views, larger rooms, or more luxurious room types.

In a “worst-case” scenario, you should be mentally prepared for the tip to be pocketed and no upgrade received.

Another potential outcome is the “minimal upgrade”.

In this case, your $20 is gladly accepted, but the upgrade is modest at best and not worth the cash outlay.

An example of this would be getting “upgraded” at Excalibur from the Resort Tower to the renovated Royal Tower. Just not a huge difference.

Should You Try It?

While Vegas runs on tips, skip the weird tip and just ask nicely if any complimentary upgrades are available.

To me, discreetly passing a $20 bill adds an unnecessary layer of awkwardness to the check-in process for both the customer and the employee.

An alternative: Hold a $20 bill in your hand and ask politely if any complimentary upgrades are available. This way, the employee knows that if an upgrade is available, they’re in for a small payday.

I’m happy to tip for great service, and a complimentary upgrade is just that. In my opinion, the “cash in hand, ready to tip” method is equally as effective as the $20 sandwich, just without the awkwardness.

Personally, I don’t even do that anymore. I just ask. Especially if it’s mid-week (meaning slow), and I’ve gotten lucky a few times, like this Nobu Upgrade at Caesars Palace, when I only had a base Colosseum Room booked.

Inflation and the $20 Trick

A lot of folks are now using larger denominations for the $20 trick.

Especially at upscale resorts like Wynn & Encore, Bellagio, Caesars Palace, Aria, etc., you may have more luck putting a $50 to work.

That said, I say skip it, ask nicely, and tip if you feel you received good service.

No need to be all weird about it.

Related: Hotels with a view of the Bellagio Fountains and Resorts with Recently Renovated Rooms!